Real world rides, real world riders

BMW Adventure bikes top the charts

Combined sales of the BMW R1200 GS and R1200 GS Adventure variant made BMW’s class-leading adventure sports machine the UK’s best selling motorcycle over 125cc in 2011.

Popularity and strong sales of the GS range of motorcycles, which was expanded in 2011 to include the new G650 GS, gave BMW Motorrad a 32% market share in the adventure-sports sector which it created over 30 years ago with the R80 G/S and continues to lead today.

BMW has enjoyed even more success in the touring sector, where the R1200 RT, K1600 GT and K1600 GTL respectively were the three top best-selling motorcycles. As a result, BMW Motorrad’s market share in the touring market has increased by over a quarter in just one year, rising from 38% to 48%.

These figures, combined with strong sales of the S1000 RR, BMW Motorrad’s first supersports machine, and the 2011 model range, have seen BMW Motorrad’s overall market share in the UK* increase to 12.7%.

Adrian Roderick, general manager for BMW Motorrad UK, said: “In a market that continues to decline, BMW Motorrad has seen strong sales both across its traditional sectors, adventure-sports and touring, as well as in the highly competitive supersports market.

“For the S1000 RR, which entered its second year on sale in 2011, to be the third-best selling bike over 125cc is very rewarding but the fact that one in every two touring motorcycles sold in the UK is a BMW and one in three adventure-sports bikes is a GS is a real measure of our continued success.

“And with a significantly updated new BMW S1000RR, two brand new solution for urban transport in the C600 Sport and C650 GT maxi-scooters and a whole host of new additions to the BMW range including new GS models and special editions, 2012 looks to be an even better year for BMW and its customers.”

(*Market share of motorcycles over 125cc)